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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

The events described in the song (rain on your wedding day, a traffic jam when you're already late, etc.), are not examples of irony. Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. The one actual, ironic statement in this song is, "As the plane crashed down he thought 'well, isn't this nice'..." Sarcasm is an example of irony, and this thought, clearly, was a sarcastic one. (thanks, Margaret - Buellton, CA [Margaret is an English teacher])

The London Times June 14, 2008 asked Morissette if she has worked out the meaning of irony yet. She replied: "Yes, I've now learnt the definition of irony - but the dictionary now says that it's a coincidence and bad luck, too - not that I don't deserve a little slap on the wrist for my malapropism. I always tell people that I'm the smartest stupid person you'll ever meet."

At the end of the song, Alanis says life has a funny funny way of helping us out - in spite of all of the bad stuff that we have to go through. The bad stuff helps us get to where we are going, and that is ironic. (thanks, Nicole - Houston, TX)

This was Morissette's third single and first Top-10 hit. Her first single, "You Oughta Know," is probably her best known, but no one had heard of her when it was released and it only hit US #13.

Glen Ballard produced this and wrote it with Alanis. He has also worked with Dave Matthews and has a history of radio-friendly production. Morissette moved from Canada to Los Angeles to write and record with him.

This is one of 5 hits on the album, which has sold over 16 million copies. The others are "You Oughta Know," "Hand In My Pocket," "Head Over Feet" and "You Learn."

This was nominated for Grammys in the categories Record Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video.

In 1996, this won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video, Best Editing, and Best New Artist In A Video.

This was the first album Morissette released in America, but as a teenager, she released 2 dance albums in Canada. Her stage name at the time was simply "Alanis."

Comments:

If I may nit-pick further...she never actually SAYS that these things are ironic...she ASKS, "Isn't it ironic?"! Not normally my style of music, but even I'm not immune to that wonderful belting of "rain"!
- Karen, Manchester, NH

the fact that none of the lyrics consists of irony in a song called ironic is ironic!! therefor alanis didnt cock up at all!! love her music and voice.. very talented women
- kirsty, oxfordshire, United Kingdom

This song is funny,but true in every way.And her voice is so unique...Amazing ^^ ~Shilo~
- Shilo, Noneofyourbuisness, Italy

face it, she cocked it up. that is what happens when you try to be all clever and wordy with little or no natural aptitude. she got caught out here.
- matthew, dumfries, United Kingdom

None of this is Ironic, but its pretty funny
- Spencer, A Village, NJ

I just love this song. I do't really give a crap if it is actually ironic or not--The vocals are great and the lyrics are just funny, especially if you frolic through other people's pain.
- Jailene, k-tOWN, WA

i used a couple quotes from this song in a speech class i took once...and i got an A on that speech...thanks...what a beautiful song
- Madalyn, Greensburg, PA

Poster Jason said: "If yesterday you needed a spoon and there were 10,000 knives and today you needed a knife and there were 10,000 spoons". Jason how big is your utensil drawer? Remind me never to eat at your house. On topic, I prefer the def of IRONIC as being "it figures". Now go figure.
- Don, B G, KY

she better make the rock and roll hall of fame!
- julian, placentia, CA

Everyone should stop bagging Alanis. She is a fantastic artist, and this song absolutely rocks. I agree with Sarah from England. I love it when she belts out "Rain". Please enjoy music, everyone.
- Michael, Melbourne, Australia

Isn't it ironic to be discussing semantics in rock music? It are a good song, but.
- dweebstick, melbourne, Australia

Why be so technical? This is a good song in many ways. It's got a story, good feeling and great music. We all know what she means.
- Nelson, Melbourne

OK, so she was a bit wrong with her choice of words. How many grammatically challenged songs have we endured in the rock era? But you have to admit this--"Ironic" really kicks. The explosion of the word "rain" in every refrain. The way she flips off the phrase "It figures." The multi-layered emotion of the line "Yeah, I really do think." Alanis is an incredible craftsman on this recording (sorry--craftswoman). She is far more advanced than the rest of the 1990s pop pack. I say step back and let her use the word "ironic" however she durn well pleases.
- dirk, Nashville, TN

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition: 2. a. Incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs Wikipedia: Situational Irony: Players and events coming together in improbable situations creating a tension between expected and real results. Irony of Fate:The expression "irony of fate" stems from the notion that the gods (or the Fates) are amusing themselves by toying with the minds of mortals, with deliberate ironic intent. Situations resembling poetic justice, but lacking the aspect of justice, may also be ascribed to the irony of fate. Though, yes, in general this song does not adhere to the etymological definition of "feigned ignorance", and the idea of a double audience and double meaning. Are there double meanings here? No. Are there incongruities? Yes. That would be why the populace is split on whether the song contains any irony other than the actual lack of irony. In spite of this word misusage debate, (and I do tend to agree with those who say ironic is used incorrectly in this song, at least from the etymological standpoint, unless you believe in fate, in which case I do think the term ironic is very correctly applied in all senses of the word) I love this song for its way of throwing life in our faces. It forces reconsideration of the old adage 'Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.' The first and last verse offer the best examples of this. I'd find it difficult to believe the old man did not wish for winning the lottery, the costomer did not wish for chardenne, the prisoner did not wish for a pardon, or that any woman does not wish to meet the man of their dreams. They all recieve what they think they want, but aren't able to enjoy it. So here's the thought 'Do any of us really want what we think we want?' This song certainly makes me think (as I'm certain this rather lengthy post is revealing), and that might be the real reason I like it so much. I love the rare songs that provoke thought. Feel free to comment on any of this. (I also love hearing what other people think about things. They usually challenge me to question what I think and why I think the way I do, which is how I grow.)

Look, Alanis fans, face facts. She cocked up when she wrote it, then tried to cover up this fact after someone pointed it out to her, by claiming that the whole song was being ironic, or some old cock-and-bull story. Which dug her hole even deeper. Basically, as a North American, she didn't know what irony is, and will probably never understand, if the comments of Victor, of Vienna, Virginia, are anything to go by.
- Richard, Newport, Isle of Wight, England

Maybe Alanis was being ironic in calling it ironic. SUCH a good song to belt out when driving in my car!
- Sarah, Midlands, England

she's not using the term wrong. irony is the occurance of something that is the opposite of expected. Ex. you listen to a song called "ironic", and you probably expected there to be even a little irony in it.
- Zach, norman, OK

At school they exampled this song and i hated it and it didnt make sence. i dont like alanis
- Casie, Denver, CO

i think she is trying to say that life sometimes doesnt make sence even though its really happening. a man turned 98 and won the lottery? it doesnt make sence but although its so ironic that it truly happend.
- Casie, Denver, CO

Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is meant and what is said. Good song!
- Merrie, Clive, IA

lovin the philosophy here. hc
- Josh, Pontypridd, Wales

I think that this song is about all of the really crappy things that happen in life. At the end of the song she says life has a funny funny way of helping you out. See... in spite of all of the bad stuff that we have to go through... the bad stuff helps us get to where it is we are going. And that my friends, truly is ironic.
- Nicole, Houston, TX

The song, and its intended lack of actual irony, demonstrates the way we try to rationalize or shrug off varying degrees of drama or even trauama in our lives. All this horrible stuff happens, and we make ourselves chuckle and say, "Isn't it ironic?" or something equally banal, rather than fessing up to the misery of the deal. This song, like the whole album, was all about emotional honesty.
- NickC, Ft. Wayne, IN

alanis has stated that the deliberate irony of her song "Ironic" is that it contains no actual irony.
- Spriteboy, nyc, NY

ok, some of the events she listed in my opinion are examples of irony, and some are examples of bad luck. Examples of irony: 1) free ride when you've already paid 2) mr. play-it-safe who was afraid to fly, and then took the flight and then it crashed 3) good advice that you just can't take 4) no-smoking sign on your cigarette break Examples of bad luck: 1) old man who won the lottery and died the next day 2) death-row pardon 2 minutes too late 3) black fly in your chardonnay 4) rain on your wedding day 5) traffic jam when you're already late 6) meeting the man of her dreams, and then meeting his beautiful wife 7) 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife
- Victor, Vienna, VA

Alanis might want to look into the meaning of ironic. There is more history to irony than there is with bad luck. If yesterday you needed a spoon and there were 10,000 knives and today you needed a knife and there were 10,000 spoons, then you would have a case for irony "don't ya think."
- Jason, Louisville, KY

Who cares if she's using the word ironic correctly or not! It's a good song.
- Kurt, Downers Grove, IL

Ironic (Ballard/Morissette) - 3:49, is actually the forth single after "You Oughta Know," "Hand in My Pocket" and "All I Really Want."
- Dino, Bandung, Indonesia

There's a tiny chance she was being ironic when she said it was ironic... but that would be reading into it QUITE A BIT.
- Meryl, Somewhere, England

This song is not really about irony, as Jordan said, it is about misfortune. Whether she was knowingly using the word in the incorrect sense or not, let's face it - the song just wouldn't have struck the same chord if it had been called "Unlucky", would it?
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

ironic means "it figures" and according to The American Heritage? Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright ? 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, "The words ironic, irony, and ironically are sometimes used of events and circumstances that might better be described as simply 'coincidental' or 'improbable,'"therefore i think she conveys the correct meaning of the word.
- Amy, Cherry Hill, NJ

Alanis was using the common ( and incorrect ) use of the word. She knows that none of those situations is ironic. Gods bless you Alanis.
- Kenneth, New York, NY

Does all that stuff really matter? Its a great song no matter if she's right or wrong...
- Daisy, Ikast, Denmark

I seem to recall that when this song was at it's peak back in 1996, a university professor studied this song, and released a report discussing the complete inaccuracy in the events it details as being ironic.
- Brian, Edmonton, Canada

I think perhaps Alanis had one of the other meanings of irony in mind: incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result. However, the events in the song are still not ironic. She seems to have gotten ironic mixed up with unfortunate. Irony would be something like a man buying a smoke detector, which shorts out and burns his house down.
- Jordan, North Bend, WA